22 APRIL 1899, Page 15

THE PARSON'S HANDBOOK.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] 81)1,-1 have puzzled over the point which you selected for criticism in "The Parson's Handbook," without being able to discover your meaning. The argument in question is based solely upon our. Twentieth Article. This Article asserts that, though "the Church bath power to decree rites and cere- monies yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain anything that is contrary to God's word written." If, then, incense was one of the three significant gifts offered to the infant Christ, and if it is part of the ideal worship of heaven described twice in the Apocalypse, the Reformers could not have meant to abolish it. Your reviewer replies by pointing out that incense is not known to have been used during the first three centuries. This fact—well known to liturgical students—can have no kind a relation to an argument as to the meaning of Article XX.—I am, Sir, Sze.,